Holder for gasoline lantern

ABSTRACT

A device for displaying a lighted gasoline lantern from a small pleasure boat, usually powered by an outboard engine, having gunwales of hollow construction characterized by a broad top surface and having inner and outer wall surfaces extending downwardly from the top surface. The lantern holder of the invention, which is adjustable for use with lanterns of different sizes, includes a cylindrical receptacle, comparatively short relative to its diameter, which in use is disposed vertically and has the bottom of a lantern received bodily therein, and an elongated metal strip, preferably aluminum, which is bent substantially 180* intermediate its ends and in use has portions thereof in overlying engagement with the top surface and the adjacent inner and outer wall surfaces of a gunwale, in yieldable, frictional engagement therewith, the last mentioned portion extending downwardly a substantial distance below the top surface and having means removably and adjustably connecting it to the receptacle, to support the receptacle on the gunwale at a predetermined distance below the top thereof. An end portion of the strip which in use extends downwardly a substantial distance below the top of the gunwale, in overlying engagement with the inner wall surface thereof, has a series of S-curves, corrugations or undulations formed therein, for yieldable, frictional engagement with the inner wall surface to better secure the holder against displacement relative to the gunwale but without spoiling the upholstery or finish thereof. Detent means, rigidly and removably connected to a middle portion of the strip and adjustable longitudinally relative thereto, is provided for selective engagement with the bail or handle of a lantern having its bottom in place in the receptacle, to prevent accidental displacement thereof.

United States Patent [191 Garrett r m1 3,843,082 1 1 Oct. 22, 1974HOLDER FOR GASOLINE LANTERN [76] Inventor: Billy R. Garrett, 5336 ConroySt.,

Fort Worth, Tex. 76134 [22] Filed: Jan. 28, 1974 21' Appl. No.: 436,935

[52] US. Cl. 248/226 E, 248/309, 248/310,

' 248/311 [51] Int. Cl. Fl6m 13/00 [58] Field of Search 248/309, 311,226 E, 310,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 339,148 4/1886 Chvala248/310 1,595,419 8/1926 Woller 248/295 2,875,974 3/1959 Albert 248/3102,960,601 11/1960 Higgins 248/311 3,008,679 ll/l961 v Powell 248/311Primary Examiner-William H. Schultz Attorney, Agent, or Firm-J. BruceSynnott, Jr.

:lhe lantern holder of the invention, which. is

adjustable for use with lanterns of different sizes,

includes a cylindrical receptacle, comparatively short relative to itsdiameter, which in use is disposed vertically and has the bottom of alantern received bodily therein, and an elongated metal preferablyaluminum, which is bent substantially 180 intermediate its ends and inuse has portions thereof in overlying engagement with the top surfaceand the adjacent inner and outer wall surfaces of a gunwale, inyieldable, frictional engagement therewith, the last mentioned portionextending downwardly a substantial distance below the top surface andhaving means removably and adjustably connecting it to the receptacle,to support the receptacle on the gunwale at a predetermined distancebelow the top thereof. An end portion of the strip which in use extendsdownwardly a substantial distance below the top of the gunwale, inoverlying engagement with the inner wall surface thereof, has a seriesof S-curves, corrugations or undulations formed therein, for yieldable,frictional engagement with the inner wall surface to better secure theholder against displacement relative to the gunwale but without spoilingthe upholstery or finish thereof. Detent means, rigidly and removablyconnected to a middle portion of the strip and adjustable longitudinallyrelative thereto, is provided for selective engagement with the bail orhandle of a lantern having its bottom in place in the receptacle, toprevent accidental displacement thereof.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing; Figures strip,

This invention relates to a holder for a gasoline lantern, and itconcerns more particularly a device as hereinafter described fordisplaying a lighted gasoline lantern from a small pleasure boat,usually powered by an outboard engine, having gunwales of hollowconstruction characterized by a broad top surface and having inner andouter wall surfaces extending downwardly from the top surface.

An object of the invention is to provide a holder for suspending agasoline lantern from a gunwale of such a boat, at night, usually whenthe boat is secured or at anchor, not in motion, as while fishing, or asa safety precaution, or for any reason that a lantern may be needed.

The inner surfaces of the gunwales of such boats are commonly padded orupholstered and have ornamental coverings of vinyl or other material,and an advantageous feature of the holder of the invention is that itwill not spoil the upholstery or finish of a gunwale to which it may beapplied.

The lantern holder of the invention, which is adjustable for use withlanterns of different sizes, includes a cylindrical receptacle,comparatively short relative to its diameter, which in use is disposedvertically and has the bottom of a lantern received bodily therein, andan elongated metal strip, preferably aluminum, characterized by itsinherent spring tension but soft and easily bent, which is bentsubstantially 180 intermediate its ends and in use has portions thereofin overlying engagement with the top surface and the adjacent inner andouter wall surfaces of a gunwale, in yieldable, frictional engagementtherewith, the last mentioned portion extending downwardly a substantialdistance below the top surface and having means removably and adjustablyconnecting it to the receptacle, to support the receptacle on thegunwale at a predetermined distance belowthe top thereof.

An end portion of the strip which in use extends downwardly asubstantial distance below the top of the gunwale, in overlyingengagement the inner wall surface thereof, has a series of Scurves,corrugations or undulations formed therein, for yieldable, frictionalengagement with the inner wall surface to better secure the holderagainst displacement relative to the gunwale but without spoiling theupholstery or finish thereof.

Detent means, rigidly and removably connected to a middle portion of thestrip and adjustable longitudinally relative thereto, is provided forselective engagement with the bail or handle of a lantern having itsbottom in place in the receptacle, to prevent accidental displacementthereof.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the followingdescription and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevational view showing fragmentarily a gunwaleof a boat having a holder for a gasoline lantern embodying the inventionin its operative position as applied to the gunwale, and showing alantern in place in the holder;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the holder;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing. the numeral designates generally a gunwale,shown fragmentarily, which is rep- 2 resentative of the gunwales ofsmall pleasure boats now in use, and which are usually powered byoutboard engines. The gunwale 10 is of hollow construction and ischaracterized by a broad top surface, indicated by the numeral 11, andhas inner and outer wall'surfaces 12, 13 which extend downwardly fromthe top surface 11.

The numeral 20 designates generally a conventional gasoline lanternhaving a cylindrical fuel tank 21 at the bottom, and having a bail orhandle 22 at the top, and the numeral 30 indicates generally a holderfor the gasoline lantern 20 embodying this invention, as hereinafterdescribed.

The holder 30 includes a cylindrical receptacle. indicated by thenumeral 40, which is comparatively short relative to its diameter, andwhich in use is disposed vertically and has the bottom 21 of a lantern20 received bodily therein, and an elongated metal strip 50 which ischaracterized by its inherent spring tension but is soft and easilybent, and which advantageously may be made of aluminum.

The strip 50 is bent substantially 180 intermediate its ends, and in usehas portions thereof, indicated by the numerals 51, 52, 53, in overlyingengagement with the top surface 11 and the adjacent inner and outersurfaces 12, 13 of a gunwale 10, in yieldable, frictional en-.

gagement therewith. The last mentioned portion 53 extends downwardly asubstantial distance below the top surface 11 and has means ashereinafter described removably and adjustably connecting it to thereceptacle 40, to support the receptacle on the gunwale 10 at apredetermined distance below the top thereof.

The portion 53 of the strip has a longitudinal slot 55 therein forengagement by belts 56 whereby the strip 50 is removably and adjustablyconnected to an opposing slide element 60, which has a correspondingslot 61 therein for engagement by the belts 56 and is removably andadjustably connected by belts 56 to one side of the receptacle 40.

An end portion 52 of the strip .50, which in use extends downwardly asubstantial distance below the top of the gunwale 10, in overlyingengagement with the inner wall surface 12 thereof has a series ofS-curves, corrugations or undulations, indicated by the numeral 54,formed therein, for yieldable, frictional engagement with the inner wallsurface 12 to better secure the holder 30 against displacement relativeto the gunwale 10 but without spoiling the upholstery or finish thereof.

The holder 30 further includes detent means as hereinafter described,rigidly and removably connected to a middle portion 51 of the strip 50and adjustable longitudinally relative thereto, for selective engagementwith the bail or handle 22 of a lantern 20 having its bottom 21 in placein the receptacle 40, to prevent accidental displacement thereof.

The dentent means above mentioned includes a pair of right angularlybent elongated members 70, 80, as hereinafter described, which arearranged one upon the other and are removably and adjustably connectedto the strip 50 by a belt 90, and which secure the bail or handle 22between them. A thick washer or bearing 91 surrounds the belt 90, whichhas a wing nut 92 thereon.

The middle portion 51 of the strip 50, and an end portion of the member70, which is L-shaped, have 1ongitudinal slots therein, and a middleportion of the member 80, which is U-shaped and as shown is arrangedbetween the strip 50 and the connected end portion of the member 70, hasa corresponding hole therein for engagement by the belt 90. Theupstanding side portions of the member 80 are indented, as at 99, forselective engagement by the 'bail or handle 22 of the lantern 20.

In use the bail or handle 22 of the lantern is hooked over theupstanding sides of the U-shaped member 80, and received in one of theindentations 99 thereof, and the upstanding portion of the L-shapedmember 70, which is in opposing relation to the indentations 99 of theUshaped member 80, serves as a keeper to prevent accidental displacementof the bail or handle 22 from the U-shaped member 80.

I claim:

1. In a device for displaying a lighted gasoline lantern soft and easilybent, which is bent substantially 180 infrom a small pleasure boat,usually powered by an outboard engine, having gunwales of hollowconstruction characterized by a broad top surface and having inner andouter wall surfaces extending downwardly from the top surface, thecombination of a'cylindrical receptacle, comparatively short relative toits diameter, which in use is disposed vertically and has the bottom ofa lantern received bodily therein, and an elongated metal strip,characterized by its inherent spring tension but tive thereto, forselective engagement by the bail or handle of a lantern having itsbottom in place in the receptacle, to prevent accidental displacementthereof.

2. The structure of claim 1, an end portion of the strip which in useextends downwardly a substantial distance below the top of the gunwale,in overlying engagement with the inner wall surface thereof, having aseries of S-curves, corrugations or undulations formed therein, foryieldable, frictional engagement with the inner wall surface to bettersecure the holder against displacement relative to the gunwale butwithout spoiling the upholstery or finish thereof.

1. In a device for displaying a lighted gasoline lantern from a smallpleasure boat, usually powered by an outboard engine, having gunwales ofhollow construction characterized by a broad top surface and havinginner and outer wall surfaces extending downwardly from the top surface,the combination of a cylindrical receptacle, comparatively shortrelative to its diameter, which in use is disposed vertically and hasthe bottom of a lantern received bodily therein, and an elongated metalstrip, characterized by its inherent spring tension but soft and easilybent, which is bent substantially 180* intermediate its ends and in usehas portions thereof in overlying engagement with the top surface andthe adjacent inner and outer wall surfaces of a gunwale, in yieldable,frictional engagement therewith, the last mentioned portion extendingdownwardly a substantial distance below the top surface and having meansremovably and adjustably connecting it to the receptacle, to support thereceptacle on the gunwale at a predetermined distance below the topthereof, and detent means, rigidly and removably connected to a middleportion of the strip and adjustable longitudinally relative thereto, forselective engagement by the bail or handle of a lantern having itsbottom in place in the receptacle, to prevent accidental displacementthereof.
 2. The structure of claim 1, an end portion of the strip whichin use extends downwardly a substantial distance below the top of thegunwale, in overlying engagement with the inner wall surface thereof,having a series of S-curves, corrugations or undulations formed therein,for yieldable, frictional engagement with the inner wall surface tobetter secure the holder against displacement relative to the gunwalebut without spoiling the upholstery or finish thereof.